Privacy on the web

[Roger]

As you probably know, Google and the other major search engines keep track of every search as well as purchases you make on the internet. The government could easily obtain this information.

In case you are interested, http://www.startpage.com/ state they do not keep any records of searches made on their search engine.

[peteyg]

The only way to have privacy on the web is to not use the web.

Silly...

As a SysAdmin, I can tell you that I own EVERY bit of traffic that passes through one of my servers. All of it. Every email, every form field element that gets passed through, every bit of data that is stored on my machines. I own it, and I could do just about anything I wanted to with it, but of course I don't. That would be unethical. For that same reason, I don't read people's email as it passes through my SMTP server. But I could, and it would be legal.

People don't seem to get this simple fact.

People should also understand (but often don't) that every single thing you do on a company PC becomes the sole property of the company you work for. So, for example, if you have a sudden inspiration and write the next Great American Novel, but you do it on your work PC, that book is the Legal property of the company you work for, and they can do whatever they want with it.

Privacy on the internet...hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

No such thing.

[Materdaddy]

I agree that privacy is something that isn't possible on the internet.

However, I do see merit in trying to make certain things private. Internet searches aren't one of them. What exactly are people 'googling' that they're afraid of google storing that 'startpage' isn't? If I was that worried about internet privacy at that level, search privacy would be the least of my worries.

Non computer people (and even tons who call themselves such) don't know how the internet works. They don't understand the IP stack, the HTTP protocol, etc.

So your exact search phrase isn't known, well when you visit any site, they can record your IP address. If you're using an HTTP 1.1 compliant browser (don't know the statistic, but I have a feeling more than 98% of people do by now) you're also sending your operating system, browser, and much more information. That can all be logged, the time you're on a site is stored with cookies, and with the help of javascript there is a lot that is not "private".

If you really want your internet browsing to be "private" your best bet would be to use some sort of privacy proxy like "the cloak" or "proxy p2p".

[sarah]

You're going to put a tin hat on me, but ALL of our communications are logged anyway.

I saw it on PBS's NOVA. You may watch it online from the link.

[Roger]

Peteyg & Mat,

If you have time could you look into the start page website and figure out what the are doing so they can claim it's private?

As far as private web surfing, what if I was trying to find the book Anarchist Cook Book? That probably sends up a red flag somewhere..

[DesertHare]

Ever hear of Carnivore?

[Roger]

Ever hear of Carnivore?

No, what is it?

[Russ Chung]

Ever hear of Carnivore?

No, what is it?

You should Google it

[DesertHare]

The best discussion of Carnivore I've come across:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2...13_000657.html

[peteyg]

As with any internet usage policy, the only guarantee you have that their privacy policy is legit is their word that it is. That is worth about....nothing.

There are plenty of programs out there that can mask your usage, but in the end, it's just data. Bits are bits. If I'm diligent enough, I can track it back. And again, if your data passes through MY server, I own it. Even if it's just being routed somewhere else. Even if it's encrypted. If I have enough patience, I can get it.

Typically, I don't have time for that crap, but there are people who do nothing BUT figure out ways to penetrate your security on the net. Again, the only way to have true privacy on the 'net is to not use it.